Chronostratigraphy of the sedimentary record of Limnopolar Lake, Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island, Antarctica

• DOI: 10.1017/s0954102012000788
• Publication Date: 2013-03-20T14:20:00Z
• Authors: Manuel Toro; Ignacio Granados; Sergi Pla; Santiago Giralt; Dermot Antoniades; Luis Galán; Antonio Martínez ...; Hyoun Soo Lim; Peter G. Appleby
• Keywords: Chronostratigraphy; Deglaciation; Peninsula; Authigenic; Shetland; Macrofossil; Lithostratigraphy

Abstract The chronostratigraphy of the sedimentary record Limnopolar Lake, located on Byers Peninsula (Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, Maritime Antarctica), is described based radionuclides and radiocarbon age dating. oldest moss macrofossil was 6700±50 yr bp (7510±80 cal ) from which age/depth model estimates a basal for c. 8300 , suggesting an earlier deglaciation than reported in previous studies. Lithological units other stratigraphic zones are throughout sediment core, showing different mineralogical composition fine alternation clays silty layers Drepanocladus longifolius. Based magnetic susceptibility analyses, number probable primary reworked tephra were identified, seven them confirmed by SEM observations, most agreement with regional tephrachronology stratigraphy north-west Antarctic Peninsula. Sedimentation rates showed no significant changes during last 5000 years exception abrupt event that took place around 5400 implied sedimentation 30 cm very short time, probably related to period glacial re-advance caused geomorphological processes catchment.